Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has announced that the Narendra Modi-led central government is considering reversing its decision to permit tungsten mining in and around Arittapatti and several other villages in Madurai district. Annamalai had previously written to Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, requesting the cancellation of the mining proposal.
Annamalai attributed the initial decision to a lack of communication from the Tamil Nadu government regarding its opposition to the tungsten mining project, which allowed the tender to be awarded to the successful bidder. The BJP leader emphasized that the Modi government prioritizes the welfare of farmers and will not pursue any initiatives that could harm their interests.
He also called on the Centre to ensure that no future mining proposals are made near biodiversity hotspots in Madurai district, stressing the need to protect both the environment and the well-being of local communities. This development comes just as the Tamil Nadu government is preparing to introduce a resolution against the initial mining decision in the state Assembly today.
In a social media post on his official X account, K. Annamalai stated, “Due to the incorrect and incomplete information of the DMK government, the public is protesting against the construction of tungsten mines in Aritapatti and Nayakkarpatti, Madurai. In this regard, I have not only written a letter to the Honorable Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Mr.@kishanreddybjp, but also called the people over the phone regarding the public’s protest against the construction of tungsten mines in the villages of Arittapatty, Nayakkarpatti, Kavattayampatty, Ettimangalam, A.Vallalapatty, Kidaripatty, Narasingampatty and other areas of Madurai and requested them to abandon the decision to construct the tungsten mines.”
“The Honorable Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Mr. @kishanreddybjp, has assured that he will consider abandoning the decision to construct the tungsten mine. The work on setting up a tungsten mine in Madurai was carried out only on the basis of the information given by the DMK government. Now, following public opposition, the DMK government is playing a drama. Under the good governance of the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi, only schemes for the welfare of farmers have been implemented. It is certain that our Prime Minister will not undertake any activities against the welfare of farmers.” He added
In a written communication to Union Minister of Coal and Mines dated 7 December 2024, Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai stated, “On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, we thank your good office for facilitating the supply of coal that caters to the ever-increasing power demand of the state and also regulating the mining of natural and other resources in optimum quantity for its use in enhancing indigenous industrial output for the benefit of our nation. Your leadership resonates with the vision set forth by our Honourable Prime Minister Thiru Narendra Modi avl to attain a developed India by 2047. Sir, We wish to bring to your kind attention that the declaration of preferred bidder for mining of Tungsten block (Critical and Strategic Mineral) under Tranche IV by the Ministry of Mines comprising Arittapatty, Kavattayampatty, Ettimangalam, A.Vallalapatty, Kidaripatty and Narasingampatty villages located in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu has created a furor among the residents of these villages given its prominence as a notified Bio-Diversity Heritage site.”
“The Ministry of Mines clarified recently that inputs were sought from the State Government of Tamil Nadu in February 2024, and until November 2024, they were not provided with any objections to the tender for mining Tungsten in the aforementioned villages. The State Government of Tamil Nadu’s failure to provide information on dissent to the Government of India led to the release of the tender to the successful bidder, and the villagers have now requested the kind consideration of our Central Government for calling off this tender. Notably, Arittapatty and the villages mentioned above have been constant recipients of environmental and ecological distress because of decades of mining activities in and around these villages, resulting in this outcry. We kindly request your good office to consider the villagers’ plea to call off the central government’s decision to mine Tungsten in and around Arittapatty and other villages stated above and also ensure that no such declaration of mining in or near notified biodiversity sites in Madurai district is made in the future in the interest of the people and the surrounding area,” he added.
திமுக அரசின் தவறான, முழுமையற்ற தகவல்களால், மதுரை அரிட்டாபட்டி, நாயக்கர்பட்டியில் டங்ஸ்டன் சுரங்கம் அமைக்க, பொதுமக்கள் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிக்கும் சூழல் உருவாகியுள்ளது.
இது தொடர்பாக, மாண்புமிகு மத்திய நிலக்கரி மற்றும் சுரங்கத் துறை அமைச்சர் திரு @kishanreddybjp அவர்களுக்குக் கடிதம்… pic.twitter.com/mBSzXGKisC
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 9, 2024
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